Tiyanjane’s Second Chance at Education at UoPeople — and Her Mission to Uplift Other Women

Originally from Malawi, Africa, Tiyanjane B. now lives in the United States. As the secondborn in a family of three, she learned responsibility early in life. But at just 14 years old, while still in high school, her life changed dramatically when she became pregnant.

For many young girls in her situation, education would have ended there, but Tiyanjane’s did not. After she gave birth to her son, her grandmother stepped in to support her. She refused to let her future be defined by her early motherhood.

“Her life is not finished. Let her go back to school,” her grandmother insisted.

With that support, her mother agreed — and Tiyanjane returned to school.

The transition was difficult. She moved from a private high school to a village school, had to adjust to a different learning environment, and faced the stigma attached to teenage motherhood. Balancing school and caring for a baby required strength far beyond her years. Yet those challenges built the resilience that continues to define her journey.

Determined to move forward, Tiyanjane went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management. Over the next 18 years, she built a career in human resources and administration, growing into leadership roles and gaining extensive experience in managing people and operations.

“It was not easy, but I kept pushing,” she reflects. “I always believed education would change my life.”

After moving to the United States, she decided to continue her academic journey and earn an MBA. Tiyanjane describes finding University of the People as a meaningful opportunity aligned with her goals.

“I chose UoPeople because it’s tuition-free, and the flexibility allows me to study at any time,” she explains. “Because it is online, I can do my assignments whenever I have time.”

Seeing someone close to her succeed also strengthened her decision. “My friend, Miriam, got a good job after earning a UoPeople degree. That gave me hope,” she shares.

Her experience at the university has been empowering. “I like that it gives opportunity to people who cannot afford expensive universities,” she says. The online structure allows Tiyanjane to balance her responsibilities while continuing to grow professionally.

She believes her MBA will help her expand her professional opportunities in the United States, but her goals extend beyond personal advancement. She dreams of becoming a successful businesswoman and using her education to support girls in Malawi. “I want to support girls in my country who give birth before they are ready,” she says, knowing firsthand how critical encouragement and opportunity can be in those circumstances.

Tiyanjane’s journey is a powerful reminder that setbacks do not define potential. With family support, resilience, and access to education, she continues to prove that second chances can lead to extraordinary futures. As a university with a mission to support learners like her, we are so very proud of how far she has come and wish her all the success in life.